Militants attack Ukrainian troops 42 times in last day

Ukrainian army positions were attacked 42 in last day near Novotroyitske, Zaitseve and Troyitske

The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in eastern Ukraine 42 times in the past 24 hours, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) reported early Wednesday.

"The epicenter of events was near the villages of Novotroyitske, Zaitseveand Troyitske. In breach of the existing Minsk agreements, the Russian-backed mercenaries fired 120mm and 82mm mortars on ATO forces, having launched about 100 mines," the report says.

"The militants fired heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka. In addition to these types of weapons, they fired from infantry fighting vehicles on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Novhorodske and Luhanske. In the Mariupol direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Shyrokyne," the press center said.

At 10:00 and about 17:00 local time, following mortar attacks, a sabotage and reconnaissance group of terrorists made an attempt to overpass the Ukrainian fortified positions near Novotroyitske and enter the territory controlled by ATO forces.

"But due to the skillful and resolute actions of the Ukrainian fighters, the enemy got an adequate response," the headquarters said.